Chanel Designs Rugby Balls To Celebrate Rugby World Cup

Have you ever found yourself wanting to go out and play some rugby with your friends, but couldn’t find the right ball to match your shoes with? And also, what do Chanel and rugby balls have in common? What if haute couture brands start designing competitive sports items? Ok, too many questions. Let’s take a step back.

Although rugby is known for being more rough-and-tumble rather than ‚Äö√Ñ√∂‚àö√ë‚àö‚â§sophisticated’, its inner nature has always been noble in spirit and has so far reached the attention of many fashion designers, including the renowned Chanel’s creative director, Karl Lagerfeld. In fact, some of you may already know that Chanel has produced two sports related items in the space of a few years, the most recent of which is a set of four rugby balls (just in case you were wondering, the first Chanel’s ‚Äö√Ñ√∂‚àö√ë‚àö‚â§transforming sporting items into luxury goods’ experimentation came late in 2011, with a cane and tennis racket set).

The fashion house has recently designed a set of special edition rugby balls just in time to celebrate the ongoing Rugby World Cup, hosted from the 18th of September to the 31st of October. The luxury made-to-order set is available in four colors: white, navy blue, black and (of course) burgundy, proving that you can follow the latest trends even while running in the mud. Although rugby ball are originally made of rubber and plastic (which make them much lighter to carry around), Chanel’s pieces are made of leather, and include the iconic brand’s signature quilted design.

Chanel, which is already well known for its stunning array of sporting items, is trying to lessen the distances between Haute Couture and the world of competitive sports in its own way, as already stated by Chanel’s creative director Karl Lagerfeld last year: “We must intensify everything that revolves around sport! Today sport is an attitude and no longer necessarily a discipline.’

Although fashion and sports are inextricably linked to one another (just think about all the sportswear related items), Chanel’s way to lessen their distances has so far raised some criticisms. Predictably, the harshest critics are due to these four ball’s price tags. In fact, if you are a rugby enthusiast or simply like to collect luxury goods, you really have to be quick! Only four of these rugby balls are actually going to be made and, considering that the price is on request, get ready to spend a lot of money.

Furthermore, these items’ exclusiveness is making most of the critics speculate about their most suitable usage, forasmuch as it clearly appears that these rugby balls are more suited for indoor sports rather than outdoor ones, and aren’t probably even designed for rugby fans at all.

On the other hand, as stated by Lagerfeld’s most dyed-in-the-wool fans, his peculiar idea to diminish the distance between sports and fashion is undoubtedly a fascinating and interesting experiment that will at least and hopefully help rugby get more of its well-deserved and rightful attention.

With a strong passion for foreign cultures, contemporary art and fashion, Virginia is an enthusiastic editor and translator. When she is not writing, she likes to read books and eat chocolate (at the same time). She also likes to take too many pictures and collect too many comics.